In May 2010, Northern Rail announced that they were set to officially become an Operating Authority licensed to deliver DofE programmes and grant Duke of Edinburgh’s Awards. December saw David Wilkinson, Northern Rail Community Safety Manager and Martyn Guiver, Head of Crime Management for Northern, receive the rail operator’s Official Operating Licence from the Duke himself.
The licence is the first for any rail operator in the world and will deliver awards through Station Adoption and the Schools’ Charter.
Leading youth charity, the DofE gives all young people the chance to fulfil their potential and make a positive difference to their community and develop life-long skills.
In a rail industry first, Northern is working with pupils at four schools in Cheshire and Yorkshire to help them achieve their Bronze Award.
Young people achieve an Award by completing a personal programme of activities in four sections; Volunteering, Physical, Skills and Expedition.
The first students to do their DofE with Northern are all monitors on train services that carry large numbers of schoolchildren. The role of monitor means they look out for their fellow pupils and help station and train crews to maintain good behaviour by their peers on railway property. It also gives students a good grounding in responsibility and leadership, as well as helping and supporting their community and meeting the requirements of the Volunteering section of their DofE programme.
Gary Stewart, Safety and Assurance Director at Northern, said: “It’s great to be working with young people in this capacity – this ground-breaking programme offers youngsters a fantastic opportunity to learn and develop life-long skills and achieve a Bronze Award.”
He continued: “Being a monitor on our train services not only counts towards their Award, but also helps instil a sense of pride in their community. Thousands of school children travel by rail every day – what better way of making them station-safe, responsible and aware of railway rules.”
Northern will be helping pupils complete their DofE programme and achieve a Bronze Duke of Edinburgh’s Award. Many of the schools involved have adopted their local station, helping to create a more welcoming environment for passengers through installing artwork and planting flowers and shrubs which counts towards their Skills section and Northern will be working with schools to deliver the Physical and Expedition sections.
Jonathan Bond, Assistant Head Teacher at Whitby College, said: “I unreservedly support Northern Rail being an Operating Authority to deliver the Duke of Edinburgh Award scheme through their work on railway stations and trains. We have a number of students who already participate in the scheme and they will really benefit from working with Northern towards their Bronze Award.”
Sally Buttifant, Mid Cheshire Community Rail Partnership, said: “This is a fantastic opportunity for young people to develop their skills, improve rail facilities and the quality of the travel experience for passengers. It is so imaginative – a train operator encouraging, mentoring and working with young people, building respect for and pride in our stations and railways.”
Initially, pupils from Knutsford High School, Cheshire, Titus Salt School, Bradford, Bradford Grammar School and Whitby College, will be doing their DofE – with more schools set to join over the coming months.
